Midnight Parrotfish

Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)

The midnight parrotfish is a striking parrotfish species found primarily in coral reefs throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida. It typically measures between 30 and 60 cm in length but can grow up to nearly 1 meter. This species has been observed as far north as Maryland and as far south as Brazil. It inhabits depths ranging from 3 to 80 meters, where it swims over reefs and sandy areas, feeding on algae by scraping it with its beak-like teeth.

**Description**

The midnight parrotfish is characterized by its deep blue body, adorned with light blue patches along its sides and head. The placement of these light blue patches varies among individuals, but every midnight parrotfish features a light blue patch on the underside of its beak. Unlike many other parrotfish species, the midnight parrotfish retains its distinctive coloration throughout both juvenile and adult stages. Both males and females display this vibrant coloring. The name “parrotfish” refers to the fish’s hard, beak-like mouth, which it uses to scrape food from hard surfaces.